Those locals that could just walk in and sign up every year, may never get to hunt again once it gets moved to the TPWD online lottery.

Yea, I've got mixed feelings about it. That is unfortunate for the folks down in the Valley. A lot of folks down there don't make a lot of money and can't afford a lease.

I was drawn for the rifle hunt once and enjoyed the hunt. What I didn't enjoy was, without assigned compartments, it was a total free-for-all when the hunt started. With all that land available to hunt, folks would move in and hunt just a few yards away knowing full well you were there first.

I have accumulated quite a few preference points in a couple of draw hunt categories including exotic. Hopefully they will put the hunt in one of those, although it seems that the points don't have as much weight anymore with increased applicants. There will be a lot more folks applying once the cat is out of the bag.

One thing as well, TPWD folks just seem to be friendlier and more helpful. I didn't have a real problem with the Federal guys at Laguna Atascosa and Aransas, but they were just very serious and not really friendly. More like cops than biologists.

BTW. For you folks that are just learning about Laguna Atascosa, don't even apply. It is a horrible place absolutely devoid of any game. You will go home with nothing but ticks and chiggers on your privates!

Cant be good for the Valley, that was the best value hunt around. It was easy to draw archery tags and rifle took me 2-3 years. Hope it doesn't get screwed up.

cool

This will be fun to watch. This past hunting season we didn't see as much game as in the past years. Come to find out that before the season opened up the folks at the refuge did a herd reduction hunt by helicopter and shot over 160 hogs. Once deer and nilgai sense the hunting pressure they move to the protected areas of the refuge where no hunting is allowed. This info was straight from the folks who work at the refuge.

What's up Jav?

Not much. Just wondering how this thing with the refuge is going to pan out.

Feel bad for the Valley guys. The truth be told few that travel into the area will like the hunt. They will last a day at best.

It will be interesting to see what they do about compartments and road access to include access through Adolph Thomae Jr County Park.

I wonder if the Lower Rio Grande NWR will follow suite?

From what I've heard yes they will.